Those were still guys - 1600 km long classic car rally over 50 years ago
10/12/2014
On May 23, 1961, 46 vehicles started in Brussels in a rally that is almost unimaginable today. The thoroughly sporting competition was a commemorative event for the Brussels-Paris-Madrid stage held in 1903.
The vehicles, which had to be older than 1914, had to cover 1600 km. For the 12 stages via Reims, Versailles, Tours, Agnoulème, Bordeaux, Biarriz, San Sebastian, Vitoria, Burgos, Vallidolid and Escorial to Madrid, a period of 12 days until June 6, 1961 was available, with average speeds of 18 to 25 km/h being specified. The vehicles, including a Renault 1900, a Panhard from 1902 or the De Dion Bouton 6 hp Tourer from 1911 pictured above (exactly this car took part), were not capable of much more.
Incidentally, the racing celebrities of the time were also present at the wheel, with Paul Frère and Giovanni Lurani taking part, presumably not on behalf of major car manufacturers, but for the fun of it. Anyone who managed to complete the distance had achieved an impressive feat and was actually already a winner, as three vehicles broke down within the first 15 km.
